Is track and field like cross country?

Answer 1

Track and Field is only like cross country in that they both involve running. While cross country involves a long, continuous run, usually off of any track, track and field involves many events that different athletes specialize in. Not all of these events involve running, such as the discus throw. The longest run in a high school track meet is two miles, all of which occurs on a track, whereas a high school cross county meet is five kilometers, or 3.1 miles.

Answer 2

The only sport relatively close would be track, and only because they are both running sports. Cross country meets are 3.1 miles across various terrain, whereas track takes place on, well, a track and consists of various long-distance, mid-distance, sprinting, and field events. None of which exceed 2 miles in length.

*As a side-note, never ask a cross country runner what event they run. It drives them crazy that their sport is constantly confused with track. There is only one event for cross country. (5k)